Burda Style For people who sew

Hello,

I’m wondering if anyone has any advice on which sewing machine might be a good fit for me. I am new to sewing machines but have done quite a bit of hand sewing. I have a lot of passion for sewing, and want a sewing machine I can grow into. I’m looking to work with a variety of fabrics, so a sewing machine that can handle both heavy and sheer fabrics would be optimal. I haven’t found any that do both sheer and heavy, but here are some I’ve been considering:

Husqvarna Viking Emerald 116 or 118
Juki HZL-27Z
Singer 7470 Confidence
Janome magnolia
Janome Sewist 500

I’ve been told to avoid Brothers because they break down easily.

Any suggestions? Thoughts? Thanks in advance for your help!

May 26, 2011, 09.13 PM by pau913

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  Jun 7, 2011, 08.58 AMby monikapullerits

  I recently bought Janome 1012. I was told its one of the best companys ‘cos the inside is made on metal. AVOID PLASTIC interiors! MIne is very simple, just basic things but can handle with jeans and heavy fabrics. If you’re lazy then take one that has one-stage buttonhole maker. I have 4-stages but i was shown how its done and seemed not that hard. Will see ;)
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  Jun 7, 2011, 12.57 PMby sabrina

  I have read that they only use plastic if it has better qualities for the job than metal, like better resistance and longer life. It’s not the sort of plastic they use in packaging; it’s much more expensive.

  I have a Brother XR6600 and it hasn’t broken down. It has a 6 point feed dog and sews both denim and faux leather nicely. I have also sewn lining fabric to restitch the hem on my Mum’s skirt.

  If you want to do many kinds of fabric, look for a feed dog with about 6 points.

  I’m very glad of my one-step buttonhole — much easier to get right than the four-step on my Toyota 21DES.

  There is one decorative stitch that seldom comes out right without stabilizing it somehow — a more complicated-looking cross-stitch design, but the others are fine. There is a scallop stitch that can be used to make scalloped edge on your fabric.

  When I was looking at machines, I did like the look of the Viking machines (especially the one at the top of that series) because they came with several presser feet, but I decided against it because it has only one buttonhole and I really wanted several so that I could sew stretch buttonholes etc.

  My Brother XR6600 is computerised but really easy to use. It is also much quieter than my mechanical Toyota machine, which is still a very good machine. The low volume means that I can sew (albeit slowly) even when my younger brother is asleep.

  Both of my machines can sew stretch fabrics because they both have a stretch stitch.

  I really do recommend getting a machine with a 1-step buttonhole, and if you can get it, automatic thread tension. Neither of mine have that but when I eventually get a top-of-the-range machine, I want that as a feature — I should think it’s a real headache saver!

  Sabrina Wharton-Brown http://thesewingcorner.blogspot.com/2011/05/happy-sewing-birthday.html
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  Jun 13, 2011, 05.42 AMby Xfire300

  I can recommend Singer 7470 Confidence. My grand lola uses it and durability is a guarantee.

  Jansport Carson Clif Bar Coleman Instant